Category Archives: Psychological Insights

There’s a climate of anti immigration in the UK at the moment and the Government is making plans to cut benefits further to discourage economic migrants from coming.

My views on benefits are shaped by my years in Malaysia and Hong Kong, where benefits are non existent as these countries are more capitalist in nature. So I believe that I’m responsible for myself and my dependents and should do everything in my power to ensure their wellbeing. The UK by comparison is more socialist in that they provide assistance to those who are unable to fend for themselves. Despite this noble intention, there are some in society who are able bodied but lack the motivation to support themselves and instead rely on benefits. I can’t understand this mentality.

While out for lunch with a friend, we bumped into her acquaintance and stopped for a chat. The acquaintance was visibly upset and explained that she may not be able to pursue the nursing course that she had applied to. This was because her “b*****d” of a husband was working too many hours and so their combined income exceeded £30k pa. This meant that she would now have to pay for the nursing course rather than have it for free. Besides this all other benefits she was currently enjoying would be withdrawn. She wanted the benefits to continue and didn’t want the extra money her husband was earning. She was actually swearing at her husband for working hard to support the family. I was shocked, both by her swearing of her husband and about her mentality that she was entitled to benefits.

I find it alien that this person who is gainfully employed, would be more interested in getting maximum benefits from the government although she perhaps has the means to pay for it.

Where is the honour in hard work and supporting oneself? I hope she is in the minority as a country could not progress if most of its residents behave as she does.